Prepare Properly For Battle

# 58 – Today's Du-votional comes from 1Sa 4:1-3a, “And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines, and encamped beside Ebenezer; and the Philistines encamped in Aphek. 2 Then the Philistines put themselves in battle array against Israel. And when they joined battle, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men of the army in the field. 3 And when the people had come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, "Why has the LORD defeated us today before the Philistines? " (1 Sam 4:1-3a) Enter the Philistines. The arch enemies of the people of God. A very real nation, with very real people, who fight very real battles with the people of God just as they are recorded in Scripture. These accounts of the Philistines and their battles are used by God to portray for all time the battle between God's people and the world, the devil, and our flesh. They serve as an ensample for Christians even today. The Holy Spirit reminds us in 1Co 10:1,12 “Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” Let us therefore learn from these battles with the Philistines because the end of the age has come. The return of Christ is imminent, it could happen at any moment, therefore let us not get caught unawares. Let us not get caught without an active living relationship with God. The Israelites were confident as they went off to battle the Philistines because they had a true prophet in their midst. Surely God was with His people again! That's like thinking because you have a new dynamic Spirit-filled pastor in your church, your battles are over. I got news for you....they likely are just beginning. The Philistines aren't happy about it and they will seek to stir up the pot. Prepare yourself for battle. You do this through personal and corporate repentance, thereby re-establishing your relationship with God and opening yourself up to the work of the Holy Spirit in your own life, and in the midst of the congregation.